Recruitment for masters program continues at NMC

The Northern Marianas College Community Development Institute is recruiting students to participate in the 3rd Cohort of the Framingham State College Master of Education Degree program. The program is for educators living and working in the CNMI. It provides a unique opportunity for educators to advance both personally and academically.

The nine-course program is designed for teachers to improve their skills in the classroom and throughout the whole education environment. Courses included are Supervision, Staff Development and Collaborative Leadership; Issues and Strategies in Reading and Literacy Instruction; Research and Evaluation Methodology; Special Education in the Regular Classroom; Curriculum: Theory and Practice; Issues and Influences in Education; Creative Teaching Techniques and Utilization of Multimedia; Teaching English as a Second Language; and one elective course.

How does it work? Framingham State College will send well experienced and highly touted professors to the CNMI for all of the nine courses. This provides excellent opportunity for students and faculty to work closely with one another. Unlike online programs, Framingham instructors are available for counseling and one-on-one discussion during the duration of the courses.

Compared to other Master of Education programs, Framingham State College’s Master of Education program is cost-effective and convenient for CNMI residents. Applications can be picked up at the Northern Marianas College Community Development Institute in Building P.

According to Jeffrey C. Turbitt, language arts department chair and teacher representative at Saipan Southern High School, who is also a Framingham program applicant, “Framingham is a fully certified college, and this program is the only way to get a classroom oriented masters’ degree in Education here on island.”

“A masters’ degree not only will improve the teacher’s classroom performance, but the degree holder would receive a salary increase of at least $2,000 working for the [Public School System], which would pay the full cost of the degree in added salary alone in about three years. A masters’ degree holder with significant teaching experience receives a salary $9,000 higher than a beginner with a bachelor’s degree here in the CNMI,” Turbitt said.

“With a total degree cost of not much more than $6,000, it is also an extreme bargain in a day and age of exorbitant college costs. Even further, the program is designed for working teachers to study during Summer and holiday breaks, so a teacher/degree candidate can earn a living while studying at the same time. My understanding is that CNMI scholarships are a possibility as well. For current teachers this makes this program extremely financially viable, not to mention career enriching.”

Those who are interested or want more information should contact David Attao at 234-5498, extension 1005, 1030, or 1014.